Transcript Highlights:

• I will tell you all of the changes here are technical corrections.
• <00:40:12.240> to um actually just a technical change to um actually just a technical change
• no change in restricted funds.
• There was no change in the general fund.
• part two, and this language conforms part two, and this language conforms with<01:15:31.200>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Free Conference Committee on the 2026 General Assembly budget met to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of House Bill 500. Leaders opened by thanking the other chamber’s work, asking members to turn microphones on and off to avoid feedback, and stressing the need to clearly note decision points so both chambers record the same actions. Staff then walked through the bill page by page, explaining that the committee was comparing only House and Senate differences, not the governor’s proposed budget. The discussion covered a wide range of appropriations and language items, including next generation non-911 services, school safety reporting tools, restored funding for brain injury, epilepsy, veteran service, homeless veterans, and rocket docket programs, debt service changes, rural infrastructure, disaster aid caps, Attorney General and Medicaid fraud funding, agriculture and county fair grants, auditor and pension-related appropriations, school facilities and SEEK funding, and numerous education programs. Members also discussed charter-related funding such as Star Academy, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, school resource officers, school-based mental health providers, AP/IB exams, Governor’s Scholars and Entrepreneurs, and several pilot or initiative programs in economic development, energy, and labor. Several items were described as technical corrections or restorations of language and funding, while others reflected differences in amounts or how funds would be distributed. There were several questions and comments from members about wording such as “implement and carry out,” the absence of the governor’s budget from the comparison document, and whether SEEK funding should be tied to teacher raises. The chair and other members emphasized that the committee’s role was to reconcile the two chambers’ budgets, not to adopt the governor’s proposal. Members also raised concerns about opioid settlement funds and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library match rate, with one senator urging restoration of the House language. No final vote or formal action was taken in the portion provided; the meeting primarily consisted of explanation, questions, and discussion of proposed budget differences.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2223, name change petition; sex offenders; fiduciary in elections.
• We changed some of the requirement dates and just minor technical fine-tuning in the amendment.
• We changed some of the requirement dates and just minor technical fine-tuning in the amendment.
• And conforming changes, of course. I always got to have the technical and conforming changes.
• It also outlines the requirements and procedural duties of the commission and makes some conforming changes

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a quorum present, and several guest introductions, including visitors connected to a documentary on missing and murdered Indigenous women and representatives from charter schools. The chamber then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, considering a wide range of bills on drug offenses, firearms, child safety, health care, water, housing, tax, and government transparency. Most measures were advanced by voice vote out of committee, often after brief explanations of committee or floor amendments. On the first calendar, the Senate advanced SB 1061 on fentanyl sale thresholds, SB 1069 on prohibited weapons/muffling devices, SB 1081 on DCS case attorney appearance, SB 1127 on duty to report abuse/neglect, SB 1128 on a scrap metal theft study committee, and SB 1170 on narcotic drug sales to a minor. Several members argued against the drug bills as overly punitive mandatory-minimum measures that would reduce judicial discretion and fail to address addiction as a public health issue; supporters emphasized tougher penalties. SB 1127 and SB 1128 were amended before advancing. On later calendars, the Senate advanced SB 1021 on chiropractic board compliance training, SB 1120 and SB 1121 on radiation protection systems and health care institutions, SB 1171 on AHCCCS-related health care cost containment, SB 1174 on DCS intake hotline case history, SB 1188 on pharmacy scheduling/prescription authority, SB 1243 and SB 1244 on court-ordered treatment, SB 1166 on county school superintendent/GED preparation, SB 1241 on local planning and permitting, SB 1370 on patriotic youth group school access, SB 1024 on portable aircraft registration plates, SB 1075 on foreign entities and land conveyances, SB 1202 on groundwater, SB 1280 on the Game and Fish Commission, SB 1287 on groundwater/stock watering, SB 1167 on publication of notices, SB 1435 on explicit materials in schools and libraries, SB 1437 on public records fees, SB 1567 on sexually explicit materials, SCR 1031 on legislative boundaries, SB 1180 on income tax return conformity, SB 1221 on taxpayer protection, SB 1293 on GPLET abatement limitation, SB 1294 on property tax assessment, and SB 1429 on the Arizona Commerce Authority. Some bills drew substantive debate, including SB 1075, where an attempted floor amendment to address corporate homeownership was rejected, and SB 1202, where opponents criticized the bill as relying on outdated water data. The chamber then took up third readings on several bills. SB 1061, SB 1069, SB 1127, SB 1128, SB 1171, SB 1174, and SB 1188 all passed the Senate. SB 1021 failed on third reading, as did SB 1170, after members raised concerns about federal preemption, public safety, and mandatory minimum sentencing. SB 1243 also passed, despite objections that it expanded court-ordered treatment authority and raised due process concerns. The transcript ends with the Senate continuing through additional third-reading votes and procedural motions after the committee reports were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section four and five is a federal conformity issue aligning Minnesota statutes with federal guidance
• <00:01:14.799> issue and five is a federal conformity issue and five is a federal conformity
• What will that mean if we make this change?
• changes if needed or if we see an issue. changes if needed or if we see an issue.
• What will that mean if we make this<00:03:28.239> change? this change? this change?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We did print the change page documents.
• change within the eligibility process. change within the eligibility process.
• to state law to clarify and conform to that federal change in MA statute.
• It doesn't change scope of practice. It doesn't change the training that anybody's receiving.
• It's just a terminology change.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner Blissenbach said the provisions make technical and conforming changes related to electrical
• changes.
• changes.
• changes.
• changes.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It changes our law to where all of our funding changes for our low-income housing authorities.
• This is our biomarker legislation with one change on it. It's been named for a house member's wife.
• to Medicaid and our prior conform to Medicaid and our prior authorization<00:02:49.000> laws.
• >> No sir, this didn't change anything what we're currently doing. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• >> No sir, this didn't change anything what we're currently doing. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Keywords: Insurance - Room 210, 26 February, 2026; 9:00 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee considered several House bills, most of them already passed by the Senate or previously vetted in other committees. House Bill 1075 would expand access for low-income housing authorities and related entities to participate in insurance pooling arrangements, with the sponsor explaining it would help lower insurance costs as housing funding structures shift toward public-private partnerships. House Bill 565, renamed “Jill’s Law,” would advance biomarker testing and related Medicaid/prior authorization conforming changes; House Bill 856 would remove a repealer from the state’s anti-step-therapy law after hearings found the cost impact negligible; and House Bill 939 would extend the repealer on the volunteer firefighters’ Length of Service Award Program, which was described as needing ongoing funding to retain and recruit volunteers. The committee also heard House Bill 1019, which would expand health coverage options for small businesses, professionals, and self-employed people through access to regulated trade association self-funded group health plans. House Bill 1117 would create a transparency requirement for dental insurance by reporting premium-to-services information to the insurance commissioner and making it available in a portal; the sponsor said the Dental Association supports it. House Bill 1332 would require insurance examinations to meet National Association of Insurance Commissioners standards and best practices, and a member said he would vote present but the bill was said not to affect existing continuing education rules. Finally, House Bill 1713 would codify Mississippi Military Department authority to oversee state-sponsored life insurance for National Guard members, with the Adjutant General designated as state sponsor; it was described as voluntary, already operating since 1962, and without a fiscal note because it is paid for by guardsmen. Each bill received a motion to do pass or title sufficient to pass, was approved without opposition or with only a present vote noted on one bill, and the committee then voted to rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

• this also uh in this paragraph change this also uh in this paragraph change where<00:49:45.119><
• And actually came and changed last year.
• I just this is or is there a change?
• <01:47:17.440> amendments<01:47:18.000> providing conforming amendments providing conforming
• <01:50:27.840> amendments,<01:50:28.400> specifying conforming amendments, specifying conforming

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FAFSA formula change in 2025.
• And, and maybe we can't do change?
• you know things change and I get that. you know things change and I get that.
• I can speak to the changes related to the work study program. There were three changes.
• . change. change.

Bills: HF4362, HF4252, HF4440

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun rights, gun control, campus safety, public college, university, postsecondary institution, higher education, visitor carry, concealed carry, open carry, campus policy, Minnesota Statutes 624.714, petty misdemeanor, parking lot carry, firearm possession, public safety, college campus, student carry

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of these conform to funding decisions.
• bump offer one on proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, and Senate Bill 2008, the judge's conforming
• The last page is the judge's conformity.
• The shaded row numbers indicate a change from the Senate's original bill.

Summary: The conference committee on appropriations met on June 12, 2025 and exchanged offers on several budget areas, including Pre-K-12 education, Health and Human Services/health care, criminal and civil justice, administered funds, and transportation/tourism/economic development/infrastructure. The House announced acceptance of the Senate’s revisions on Pre-K-12 education budgets and projects, and the Senate accepted the House’s offers on several education and health care items, with no public testimony offered on those presentations. The House then explained its remaining offers, including a Pre-K-12 back-of-the-bill change, a health care package that added $10 million in non-recurring general revenue for intestinal transplant support and revised Medicaid quality incentive and other implementing-bill language, a modified criminal and civil justice position, and administered-funds changes tied to state employee pay, health insurance, debt reduction, and the budget stabilization fund. The Senate also presented bump offers on Pre-K-12 education (SB 2510), criminal and civil justice items including judge-conforming language and additional judgeships, and transportation/tourism/economic development items with supplemental attachments. No public testimony was taken on the offers. The chair noted that another conference meeting was likely not expected that evening, but more meetings could occur the next day, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know it has changed a bit.
• SB 2514 makes various changes to education statutes to conform with the proposed budget, specifically
• SB 2514 makes various changes to education statutes to conform with the proposed budget.
• This bill makes various changes in the education statutes to conform to the proposed budget.
• This bill makes various changes in the education statutes to conform to the proposed budget.

Summary: The Senate began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into floor consideration of the 2026-2027 budget. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented Senate Bill 2500, describing a $115 billion budget that reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental and agricultural programs. Highlights included increased funding for school scholarships and safety, workforce and university programs, Medicaid and child welfare, corrections operations, affordable housing, rural communities, Everglades and water quality projects, and infrastructure. Members then asked detailed questions about several budget items. Senators sought clarification on the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries, charter school capital outlay funding, EASE grants, New College funding, DOC inmate counts and reimbursement, lottery staffing, concealed weapons licensing positions, election security funding, iBudget waiver support, ADAP funding, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, and scholarship and enrollment supplements in K-12 education. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected technical shifts or right-sizing, that some funds were being moved below the line for better tracking, and that several items—such as ADAP and corrections operations—would likely remain conference issues with the House. After questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the budget and implementing measures and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles to prepare for conference. The chamber passed the budget-related bills and several conforming measures, including bills on retirement, fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, court trust funds, judgeships, and K-12 and higher education conforming changes. Votes on the major bills were overwhelmingly unanimous or near-unanimous, and the Senate repeatedly voted to accede to the House’s request for conference on the substituted bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then staff make conforming changes to update the subdivision numbers. >> Senator Abeler, is that
• So sections 1, 2, and 6 contain technical conforming changes for the recodification.
• <00:56:01.840> changes<00:56:02.800> that technical conforming changes that technical
• further contain technical and conforming further contain technical and conforming changes<00:57:
• > and Section 22 makes conforming and technical changes to paragraph A and then requires individual

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any Are there any changes? Are there any changes? changes? changes?
• I to no further changes. Yin. I to no further changes. Further changes. Closing vote.
• to no further changes. to no further changes.
• I to no further changes. Yin. I to no further changes. Further<01:57:31.199> changes.
• are there any changes? are there any changes?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and gender non-conforming individuals. and gender non-conforming individuals.
• a young children want to go and change a young children want to go and change their<01:05:13.039
• So the child can change their birth certificate, or anyone who wants to change that gender, they may
• , to go ahead and effectuate this change, to go ahead and effectuate this change, we<01:07:25.280
• intent behind the change. intent behind the change. >> Thank<01:13:00.960> you.

Bills: SB2211, SB2025, SB2038, SB2050, SB2051, SB2090

Keywords: emergency funding, food assistance, healthcare, federal shutdown, Hawaii, DHS, jury duty, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, exemption, patient care, financial hardship, medication abortion, anonymous prescription, pregnancy rights, healthcare privacy, pharmacy regulations, chiropractic education, clinical training, student supervision

Summary: The House Committee on Health held its first hearing of the session and opened with housekeeping notes, introductions of members, and an explanation that the agenda would be taken out of order to accommodate a sign language interpreter. The committee first heard HB 469, relating to parking for disabled persons. Testimony from the Disability and Communications Access Board and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the bill, explaining that a travel placard would help people with disabilities who must travel interisland or to the mainland for medical care. Members asked about emergency travel, misuse prevention, and how to distinguish the travel placard from existing disabled parking placards; witnesses said the bill would need to be tied to administrative rules, and agreed the placard should clearly show an expiration date and likely be a different color. No vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 218, relating to hospital surgical smoke. The Department of Health supported the measure, and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii supported it with amendments, saying hospitals already follow existing standards but that any new policy should account for different procedures and provider safety. A committee member questioned the proposed amendment language and whether it was too flexible; the witness explained the intent was to allow case-by-case application because some procedures generate only brief exposure. Members also asked what surgical smoke is, and the witness explained it is produced when electrical or cauterizing tools are used on tissue and creates vapor or fumes. The bill remained under discussion with no final action reported. The committee next took up HB 814, which would fund a public information campaign and related services on cannabis use among youth. The Department of the Attorney General said the bill should be amended to clarify whether the funding would be used for contracts or grants and to include proper grant standards if grants are intended. The Department of Health supported the bill and said the funds would expand prevention, treatment, recovery, and public education efforts, including social media outreach, PSAs, and school-based youth services. Multiple organizations and individuals testified in support, emphasizing the harms of youth cannabis use and the need for prevention and treatment resources. Members asked what the department currently does, whether it is fulfilling existing law on science-based cannabis information, and what kinds of treatment would be provided; the department said services would mainly be intensive outpatient, outpatient, counseling, and related youth-focused supports. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and members, HB 2129 changes the date by which trustees must submit their annual report.
• It makes changes from fetus to unborn child.
• Change my mind. Thank you. I love this group for that.
• Change my mind. Thank you. I love this group for that.
• So we've already voted on conformity once.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee worked through a very long minority caucus calendar covering a wide range of bills, with many items being described and then either left on consent, pulled from consent, or noted for votes. Topics included bullion and state depository proposals, a produce incentive appropriation, a biennial budget change, veterans services funding, driver licensing and traffic enforcement measures, procurement and public records changes, school board and school facilities rules, SNAP work requirements and verification, child welfare and juvenile justice provisions, housing and homelessness measures, energy and fuel policy, election administration, and several tax, commerce, and licensing bills. Members repeatedly raised concerns about constitutionality, federal preemption, duplication of existing law, and whether some measures were policy priorities that had been vetoed in prior sessions and were returning unchanged. Several bills drew extended debate. Members objected to English-proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and motor carriers, arguing federal law and the supremacy clause would bar them. Earned wage access regulation prompted strong opposition over consumer harm, overdraft cycles, and high effective APRs. School-related bills were criticized for overregulating public schools while not imposing similar requirements on ESA/private-school programs, especially on fingerprint clearance and reporting. SNAP-related bills were also opposed as setting unrealistic mandates and repeating vetoed proposals. Other contested measures included a drag-show criminalization bill, a bill restricting photo enforcement, a bill limiting local regulation of unmanned aircraft, and a bill conforming Arizona tax law to federal changes, which members said would benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations without a clear funding source. The committee also heard a number of supportive or less controversial measures, including bills on veterans awareness, dementia care telemonitoring, Braille transcription funding, CPA licensure pathways, cash acceptance by retailers, and some child safety and court administration changes. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, while others were noted as having unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The meeting ended with caucus announcements, including an affordability award presentation, an upcoming Latino Caucus discussion on community land trusts, and an invitation to African American Legislative Day activities, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill makes the following changes to the sales and use tax.
• The bill makes the following changes to pari-mutuel taxes.
• to conform to the proposed higher education budget.
• Senators, the conference amendment to the health care conforming bill conforms Thank you very much, Mr
• Senators, the conference amendment to the health care conforming bill conforms to funding decisions related

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved to the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27. Budget chairs presented the major spending areas, describing a $114.5 billion overall budget that they said was fiscally responsible and below the prior year’s spending. Highlights included pay increases and retirement adjustments for public safety employees, education funding for K-12, higher education, health and human services, criminal justice, transportation, environmental programs, and agriculture/regulatory agencies. Members then questioned chairs on several items. In education, senators discussed K-12 declining enrollment funding, teacher salary set-asides, private school scholarship spending, mental health funding, preeminence funding for universities, the Hamilton Center at UF, and charter school PICO funding. In health and human services, questions focused on the iBudget waiver waitlist, provider rates, ADAP/HIV funding and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, KidCare, rural health funding, SNAP-related IT and error reduction efforts, and the IDD managed care program. In criminal justice, senators asked about correctional officer pay, prison staffing and infrastructure, air conditioning in prisons, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement recruitment, and court system funding. Environmental and transportation questions covered Florida Forever, water quality, state parks, water projects, housing, elections funding, and emergency management. Several specific actions and explanations were given during debate: the budget includes $8.8 million for state attorney competitive area differentials but no funding for public defender CAD requests; assistant state attorneys will start at $70,000 and assistant public defenders at $65,000; the battery disposal issue was described as a temporary study/preemption approach; and the Senate said the budget does not fund Medicaid expansion, preeminence funding, or the SunBucks Summer EBT state share. Senators also noted that some proposals discussed in committee did not make it into the final budget. The transcript ends with debate statements from members praising the budget process and Chair Hooper, while also expressing concerns about public schools, health care access, affordability, and the lack of funding for certain priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• express gender changes. express gender changes.
• changing rooms, and locker rooms. changing rooms, and locker rooms.
• And that has to change. And that has to change.
• and I changed my license from F to M. and I changed my license from F to M.
• changes were going to be. changes were going to be.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THEY WILL GO ON PRETENDING TO BE DEVOTED TO GOD BUT REFUSED TO LET THAT DEVOTION CHANGE THE WAY THEY
• Gaetz: WE EXPECT THE DECLINING ENROLLMENT PROVISION TO BE MOVED INTO ANOTHER BILL, PERHAPS THE CONFORMING
• OF WHICH, 53 OF OUR 57 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE IN DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND WE WOULD DO THAT IN THE CONFORMING
• GRADING AND SUBMIT IT TO MAKE SURE IT COULD BE ACCEPTED SO ALL THAT TO SAY THANK YOU, WE'VE MADE CHANGES
• WE HAVE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED, THOSE TWO DON'T EQUATE, WE HAVE CHANGED HOW WE HAVE FUNDED EDUCATION AND

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Chang here. Senator DeCoite here. Senator Dela Cruz here. Senator Elefante here.
• notice<00:03:13.400> and Third reading on consent: Senate Bill 1464, relating to conformity
• reading of Senate Bill 1464<00:03:35.519> relating<00:03:35.920> to<00:03:36.200> Conformity
• <00:03:36.799> to<00:03:37.040> the 1464 relating to Conformity to the 1464 relating
• to Conformity to the Internal<00:03:37.879> Revenue Internal Revenue Internal Revenue code<00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Recommendations also include standard conforming changes to the listed riders, and recommendations include
• Turning to page 5, Recommendations include the standard conforming changes to rider 2 and recommendations
• Recommendations also include the standard conforming changes to the listed riders.
• Recommendations include the standard conforming changes to the listed riders.
• Writer highlights, the first item makes standard conforming changes to writer 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:23:09.679> but of uh college athletics is changing, but of uh college athletics is changing
• >> yeah um I will pass it to to coach Chang >> yeah um I will pass it to to coach Chang
• The recruiting landscape change.
• change dramatically. change dramatically.
• c> to<01:54:41.040> the conformity relating to conformity to the conformity relating to conformity

Bills: HB1183, HB1656, HB1658, HB1661, HB1663, HB1664, HB1859, HB2116, HB2271, HB2276, HB2335, HB2360, HB2387, HB2472, HB1805, HB2469, HB1815, HB1860, HB2117, HB2118, HB2437, HB2438, HB2604, HB1590, HB2156, HB2268

Keywords: retirement, pension, law enforcement, public safety, Hawaii Revised Statutes, indebtedness, salary recovery, employee compensation, deductions, financial management, collective bargaining, employee relations, impasse procedures, arbitration, public employment, HB1661, cafeteria plan, Section 125, Internal Revenue Code, flexible spending account